India is short of 50 Lakh medical professionals right now. The majority of medical staff (> 60%) aren’t doctors or nurses — they are AHPs (Allied Health Professionals).
Due to a global shortage of ~ 1.8 crore AHPs, many countries ‘import’ AHPs who are trained in India…
Traditionally, these roles have not been seen as the preferred career path but this is fast changing:
In the past 2 years, a few startups have been founded to capture a slice of the $200bn annual opportunity in Healthcare training, staffing & recruitment:
Due to a global shortage of ~ 1.8 crore AHPs, many countries ‘import’ AHPs who are trained in India…
Traditionally, these roles have not been seen as the preferred career path but this is fast changing:
In the past 2 years, a few startups have been founded to capture a slice of the $200bn annual opportunity in Healthcare training, staffing & recruitment:
This is a “big money business” i.e. these startups are founded by experienced (repeat) founders who raise big war chests —
BorderPlus raised a $7M Seed round yday
Emversity raised a $11M Seed round in 2024
Virohan raised $7M in 2023.
Even RED Health (the 10-minute emergency ambulance business which raised $20M+) has floated a new venture called RED Versity in the AHP training space.
The core of what these companies do is Upskill India’s talent to provide healthcare services globally — our people are our most valuable resource & one of our largest exports ($129bn in inward remittances for 2024).
BorderPlus raised a $7M Seed round yday
Emversity raised a $11M Seed round in 2024
Virohan raised $7M in 2023.
Even RED Health (the 10-minute emergency ambulance business which raised $20M+) has floated a new venture called RED Versity in the AHP training space.
The core of what these companies do is Upskill India’s talent to provide healthcare services globally — our people are our most valuable resource & one of our largest exports ($129bn in inward remittances for 2024).
But, each of these companies has some difference in approach ⤵️
(1) Emversity is focused on offline UG programs to build foundational skills (for AHPs & nurses); with paid industry experience.
Stipends range from ₹18K to ₹30K per month.
(2) BorderPlus is focused on language & culture training to help newly / almost qualified medical professionals get placed overseas
The co is staring by placing candidates in the German (EU) market hence training for language & cultural nuance is critical.
(3) Virohan places a lot more emphasis on online courses alongside paid industry experience.
(4) RED Versity by Red Health is focused on digitizing & owning offline regional training centers to create a single ‘center of excellence’
(1) Emversity is focused on offline UG programs to build foundational skills (for AHPs & nurses); with paid industry experience.
Stipends range from ₹18K to ₹30K per month.
(2) BorderPlus is focused on language & culture training to help newly / almost qualified medical professionals get placed overseas
The co is staring by placing candidates in the German (EU) market hence training for language & cultural nuance is critical.
(3) Virohan places a lot more emphasis on online courses alongside paid industry experience.
(4) RED Versity by Red Health is focused on digitizing & owning offline regional training centers to create a single ‘center of excellence’
💡While the media highlights doctor & hospital shortage — AHP shortage in India is even more acute (we have < 10 AHPs per 10,000 population versus > 150 in some developed nations).
AHPs include lab technicians, paramedics, pharmacists etc who provide “leverage” to the doctor’s time & inputs.
The exact same problem statements in India apply globally. And, our talent can be trained to serve the local & global market.
💨The tailwinds are extremely strong: AHP training is one of the focus areas under the Skill India Mission 2.0 and the global healthcare professional shortage is extremely acute in the West due to demographics (aging population of practitioners)
AHPs include lab technicians, paramedics, pharmacists etc who provide “leverage” to the doctor’s time & inputs.
The exact same problem statements in India apply globally. And, our talent can be trained to serve the local & global market.
💨The tailwinds are extremely strong: AHP training is one of the focus areas under the Skill India Mission 2.0 and the global healthcare professional shortage is extremely acute in the West due to demographics (aging population of practitioners)
These companies will pursue two models:
(a) Placement (i.e. earn by placing students post graduation)
(b) Off-Shore contracting (e.g. like how TCS sends staff on client site for contract work).
While startups are pursuing this opportunity - incumbents have been at it for a while e.g. Apollo Hospital Group runs Apollo Medskills (which trains 15,000 candidates per annum) with help from the National Skill Development Corporation.
(a) Placement (i.e. earn by placing students post graduation)
(b) Off-Shore contracting (e.g. like how TCS sends staff on client site for contract work).
While startups are pursuing this opportunity - incumbents have been at it for a while e.g. Apollo Hospital Group runs Apollo Medskills (which trains 15,000 candidates per annum) with help from the National Skill Development Corporation.
➡️ There is an annual opportunity for 25,000 to 100,000 AHPs to be trained from India for the world. Their life would change forever (for the better) & so would that of patients who benefit from their care.
This is one industry I am super bullish on — for public good 🙏
This is one industry I am super bullish on — for public good 🙏
Disclaimer: Emversity is a portfolio company of DeVC affiliate Z47. Views are my own. Not legal or financial advice. Not an endorsement or paid promotion. Shared for informational purposes only.
Thanks to Prabhdeep Singh (@singhofstanplus) and Rajat Agarwal (@RajatAgarwal167) for their inputs on this post & topic.
Thanks to Prabhdeep Singh (@singhofstanplus) and Rajat Agarwal (@RajatAgarwal167) for their inputs on this post & topic.
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